Love Sign Location

Salem's Love Sign

Current Location: Lydia's Italian Kitchen – 713 Riverview Drive

The City of Salem unveiled its LOVE art at Library Square in 2018 as part of the Virginia tourism initiative.The massive 2500-pound sign, that is 7 feet tall and nearly 17 feet long, is unique from other LOVE signs around the Commonwealth in that it is completely mobile.

The sign’s letters are made of steel and the five-foot wide base is aluminum. The peace sign was incorporated into the letter “O” of the sign because the word Salem is derived from the Hebrew word Shalom, which means Peace, Wholeness, Harmony and Tranquility.

Salem City Employees at the Street Department played a major role in the construction of the sign as they helped with the design, fabrication, welding, grinding and lettering. The talents of workers at B&M Sheet Metal in Roanoke, Sun Solutions in Vinton and R.C. Restorations in Salem also played major roles in developing the final product. In particular, R.C. Restoration donated the labor to paint the structure. This company did the same thing when it clear coated the 9/11 Memorial that is located at Fire Station One.